The Greene Murder Case

To
Norbert L. Lederer

Άγαθὴ δἑ παράφασίς έστιν έταίρου

Murder most foul, as in the best it is;
But this most foul, strange and unnatural.

Hamlet

Characters of the Book

• Philo Vance.

• John F.-X. Markham. District Attorney of New York County.

• Mrs. Tobias Greene. The mistress of the Greene mansion.

• Julia Greene. The eldest daughter.

• Sibella Greene. Another daughter.

• Ada Greene. The youngest daughter.

• Chester Greene. The elder son.

• Rex Greene. The younger son.

• Dr. Arthur Von Blon. The Greene family physician.

• Sproot. The Greene butler.

• Gertrude Mannheim. The cook.

• Hemming. The senior maid.

• Barton. The junior maid.

• Miss Craven. Mrs. Greene’s nurse.

• Chief Inspector O’Brien. Of the Police Department of New York City.

• William M. Moran. Commanding officer of the Detective Bureau.

• Ernest Heath. Sergeant of the Homicide Bureau.

• Snitkin. Detective of the Homicide Bureau.

• Burke. Detective of the Homicide Bureau.

• Captain Anthony P. Jerym. Bertillon expert.

• Captain Dubois. Fingerprint expert.

• Dr. Emanuel Doremus. Medical Examiner.

• Dr. Drumm. An official police surgeon.

• Marie O’Brien. A Police nurse.

• Swacker. Secretary to the District Attorney.

• Currie. Vance’s valet.

It has long been a source of wonder to me why the leading criminological writers—men like Edmund Lester Pearson, H. B. Irving, Filson Young, Canon Brookes, William Bolitho, and Harold Eaton—have not devoted more space to the Greene tragedy; for here, surely, is one of the outstanding murder mysteries of modern times—a case practically unique in the annals of latter-day crime. And yet I realize, as I read over my own voluminous notes on the case, and inspect the various documents relating to it, how little of its inner history ever came to light, and how impossible it would be for even the most imaginative chronicler to fill in the hiatuses.